Calla lily plant named &#39;Fantasia&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Fantasia’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a red/purple-colored spathe that produces 4-12 inflorescences per tuber. The height of the top of an inflorescence above the soil can reach up to 48 cm. The leaves are green with transparent maculations present and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/498,157, having a filing date of Dec. 15, 2016,and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Fantasia’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Fantasia’.

‘Fantasia’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to asZ030004 (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengerivariety named ‘Garnet Glow’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Fantasia’ wasselected in 2010 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as oneflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fantasia’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in September of 2013 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown from 12 to 14 weeks in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlandsunder greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used inhorticultural practice. Color references are made to the 2001 R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Fantasia’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Red/purple-colored spathes;    -   2. Large inflorescences; and    -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Samur’ (unpatented),the upper surface spathe color of ‘Samur’ varies between Red-PurpleGroup RHS 68B and 68D, whereas the upper surface spathe color of‘Fantasia’ varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 60C and 63B.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Fantasia’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selection Z030004 and Zantedeschiasprengeri variety ‘Garnet Glow’.

TABLE 1 ‘Fantasia’ Similarities Differences Z030004 Spathe shape Spathecolor Spathe size Plant height ‘Garnet Glow’ Leaf shape Number ofinflorescences Spathe size Spathe shape

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph of multiple inflorescences of the newvariety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   The plant:    -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 26-56 cm.            Height of top of inflorescences above the soil: 24-48 cm.            Diameter: 10-14 cm.        -   Form.—Erect.        -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in            diameter: 4-7 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter: 5-9            inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 6-10            inflorescences. Size 20+cm in diameter: 8-12 inflorescences.        -   Branches.—Character: Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 18,833). Color: Between Green Group RHS 143A            and Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.        -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 3-11 cm. Length: 14-33 cm. Number per            plant: 10-18. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base:            Between attenuate and decurrent. Margin: Undulate; having a            color between Green Group RHS 143A and 143B. Color: Upper            surface: Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green Group RHS            147A, having transparent maculations of approximately White            Group RHS 155A. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137C,            having transparent maculations of approximately White Group            RHS 155A. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Upper            Surface: Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green Group RHS            147A. Lower Surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 147A to 147B.            Surface quality: Leathery. Petiole: Length: 12-23 cm.            Diameter: 6-10 mm. Color: The base is White Group RHS 155A,            the upper part is Green Group RHS 143A to Yellow-Green Group            RHS 144A.        -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other            Zantedeschia varieties.-   The inflorescence and seeds:    -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from opening to tip):            8-15 cm. Width: 2.5-8 cm. Height: 3-8 cm. Color: Upper            surface: Varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 60C and 63B.            Lower surface: Varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 61B and            64A. Vein color: Between Red-Purple Group RHS 60A and 60B.            Shape: Cupped. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Undulate. Texture: Smooth (upper and lower surfaces).        -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 11-41 mm. Diameter: 3-8 mm. Color:            Between Yellow Group RHS 12A and 14A. Position relative to            spathe: Upright.        -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 15-33 cm. Diameter: 6-12 mm. Color:            The upper part is between Green Group RHS 137A and 143A, the            lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C. Texture: Smooth.        -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal            position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper            position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:            Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More            than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant; similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS 155A            and 155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm.            Color: Between Green-Yellow Group RHS 1A and Yellow Group            RHS 2C. Filament: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between            White Group RHS 155A and 155B. Pistils: Number: 15 to 30.            Length beyond perianth: About 1 mm. Stigma: Shape: Round.            Size: Less than 1 mm. Style: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:            Between Yellow Group RHS 9C and 12A. Ovaries: Texture:            Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width: Between 1 to            10 mm. Color: Top color is between Green-Yellow Group RHS 1C            and Yellow Group RHS 2C, the bottom color is between White            Group RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS 157C.        -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between            Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A. Amount: Between 1-60.-   General:    -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases            noticed to date.        -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed            to date.        -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.        -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.        -   Flowering.—In general, the time from planting to first            flowering takes eight weeks. However, tubers stored for a            longer period before planting may flower earlier — up to            five weeks after planting.        -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named‘Fantasia’ as herein described and illustrated.